The high court ruled private citizens had "no standing" to appeal same-sex ruling

Celebrity chef Paula Deen hopes the Supreme Court's ruling allowing same-sex marriage to be legal in California will help in her defense against a racial discrimination lawsuit.

The woman alleging that she was subjected to a hostile work environment while working as an assistant manager at Deen's restaurants is white and therefore doesn't have the "standing," or legal right, to claim racial discrimination, according to a motion filed Monday by Deen's lawyer.

The high court rejected an appeal of California's Proposition 8 law last week on the grounds that the private parties behind the appeal did not have standing to defend the ballot measure barring gay and lesbian couples from state-sanctioned wedlock.

Even if the federal judge in Savannah, Georgia, accepts the argument and tosses the lawsuit, much damage has already been done to Deen's career and businesses by the public fallout from a deposition in which she acknowledged using the "N-word."

Paula Deen's empire – In the wake of the recent deposition in which Paula Deen admitted to using racially charged language, many sponsors and partners have re-evaluated their relationship with the embattled chef. Deen's 15th cookbook, "Paula Deen's New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up," was set to release in October 2013. The book shot to the top of Amazon's pre-order list, but has now been canceled by Ballantine Books.

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Paula Deen's empire – Food Network was the first partner to drop Deen, announcing that after 11 years, it would not renew her contract when it expired at the end of the month. Deen had three shows on the network and released a statement saying in part: "I have had the pleasure of being allowed into so many homes across the country and meeting people who have shared with me the most touching and personal stories. ...This would not have been possible without the Food Network. Thank you again. Love and best dishes to all of ya'll."

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Paula Deen's empire – Smithfield Foods terminated its relationship with the TV chef, saying: "Smithfield condemns the use of offensive and discriminatory language and behavior of any kind. ... Smithfield is determined to be an ethical food industry leader and it is important that our values and those of our spokespeople are properly aligned." Deen became a spokeswoman for Smithfield, the country's largest producer of pork products, in 2006.

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Paula Deen's empire – Deen was a paid spokeswoman for Novo Nordisk, the company that makes the diabetes drug Victoza. The relationship came under fire from fans when it was revealed that Deen had known of her own diabetes diagnosis while still promoting fatty, sugary recipes on air and in print. The company announced that it is suspending its relationship with Deen.

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Paula Deen's empire – QVC features the Paula Deen's Kitchen line of products, including cookware, bakeware and cookbooks. A spokesperson for the brand said: "Paula won't be appearing on any upcoming broadcasts, and we will phase out her product assortment on our online sales channels over the next few months."

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Paula Deen's empire – Caesar's Entertainment Corporation, which operated four Paula Deen-branded restaurants at its casinos, announced that it is severing ties with the chef. Deen still maintains a flagship restaurant, The Lady & Sons, as well as Uncle Bubba's Oyster House (named for her brother Earl "Bubba" Hiers), both in Savannah, Georgia.

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Paula Deen's empire – World's largest retailer Walmart cut ties with Deen, saying, "While we appreciate Paula's sincere apologies for statements she made in her past ... we have mutually decided that it is in the best interests of both parties to part ways at this time."

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Paula Deen's empire – Sears Holding Corp., the parent company of both Sears and Kmart, said in a statement: "After careful consideration of all available information, we have made the decision to phase out all products tied to the brand. We will continue to evaluate the situation." Both stores carried cookware under the Deen brand.

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Paula Deen's empire – Home Depot and Target have both announced that they will stop carrying Paula Deen-branded kitchen and cookware items and phase out existing inventory.

Paula Deen's empire – Fans can sail to the Caribbean on Celebrity Cruises' Reflection for a week-long jaunt with the embattled chef. Demand for Paula Deen Cruises has been so high, a second one has been added for 2014, according to Alice Travel, which hosts the venture.

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Paula Deen's empire – Kaleen Rugs licensed a collection of Paula Deen Comfort Rugs, which debuted in 2008. The line has since been discontinued.

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Paula Deen's empire – At the end of 2012, Serta discontinued its line of Paula Deen Home-branded mattresses.

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Paula Deen's empire – For two seasons, Kraft Foods' "Real Women of Philadelphia" campaign employed Deen as the celebrity host of a contest for home cooks who shared cooking videos featuring the brand's signature cream cheese. Kraft has not worked with Deen since early 2012.

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EXPAND GALLERY

Asked by the lawyer taking the deposition if she had ever used the word, she said, "Yes, of course."

She said she had probably used the racial slur when talking to her husband about "when a black man burst into the bank that I was working at and put a gun to my head" -- an incident that took place 30 years ago.

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Asked if she had used it since then, she said, "I'm sure I have, but it's been a very long time." She noted that circumstances have changed "since the '60s in the South."

Many of Deen's lucrative business relationships have crumbled in the wake of media coverage of the lawsuit. She has lost at least nine endorsements along with her Food Network cooking show, and publication of her eagerly anticipated cookbook has been canceled.

Deen attorney William Franklin's motion, filed Monday with the U.S. District Court in Savannah, cited the June 26 Supreme Court decision in Hollingsworth v. Perry, the California case.

"Writing for the majority, Chief Justice Roberts made this observation: Article III of the Constitution confines the judicial power of federal courts to deciding actual 'Cases' or 'Controversies,'" the motion said. "One essential aspect of this requirement is that any person invoking the power of a federal court must demonstrate standing to do so. This requires the litigant to prove that he has suffered a concrete and particularized injury that is fairly traceable to the challenged conduct, and is likely to be redressed by a favorable judicial decision."

George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley told CNN Tuesday the contention that the Prop 8 ruling is relevant to the Deen case won't hold water.

The concept of standing is hardly new, and the Supreme Court bringing it into the spotlight in Hollingsworth v. Perry doesn't not advance Deen's motion to dismiss the case, Turley said.

Lisa Jackson, the plaintiff in the suit against Deen is white, has no standing because she couldn't have suffered "a personal and tangible harm" from hearing the "N-word" on the job, the Franklin's , motion says.

In the Prop 8 case, state officials refused to pursue an appeal when a federal judge struck down the same-sex marriage ban. Private citizens picked it up, ultimately to be told by the high court last week that they had no standing to do so.

Jackson is a former manager at Deen's restaurants in Savannah, Georgia. She is suing Deen and her brother, Bubba Hier, alleging they committed numerous acts of violence, discrimination and racism that resulted in the end of her five-year employment at Deen's Lady & Sons and Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House eateries in Savannah.

She gave a statement to CNN's Don Lemon through her lawyer, Matthew Billips, on Monday.

"This lawsuit has never been about the N-word," she said. "It is to address Ms. Deen's patterns of disrespect and degradation of people that she deems to be inferior. I may be a white woman, but I could no longer tolerate her abuse of power as a business owner, nor her condonation of Mr. Hier's despicable behavior on a day-to-day basis. I am what I am, and I am a human being that cares about all races, and that is why I feel it is important to be the voice for those who are too afraid to use theirs."

Deen's lawyer has called the allegations false, and Deen has said she does not tolerate prejudice.

Deen made an emotional appearance on NBC's "Today Show" last week in which she called the accusations "horrible, horrible lies."

"I believe that every creature on this Earth, every one of God's creatures, was created equal," she said. "... I believe that everyone ought to be treated equal."

Celebrity chef Paula Deen, facing allegations of racism that have caused parts of her empire to crumble, slammed what she called "horrible, horrible lies" about her in an emotional, nationally televised interview.

Former President Jimmy Carter said embattled celebrity chef Paula Deen should be forgiven, arguing that while there's no condoning the racial slurs she uttered, the well-known personality has been candid and apologetic.